By Ben Adaji
Contrary to media publications’ claim that 27 senators were denied landing permit at the Kashimbila Airport in Taraba State to honour their Colleague, Sen. David Jimkuta’s empowerment program in Wukari on Monday, an APC Chieftain Chief (Dr) David Sabo Kente has cleared the air, stating that the Lawmakers were not actually denied landing permit.
Kente explained to Journalists in Wukari on Wednesday that the Kashimbila Airport has been consessioned to a private firm to manage and the process of transitioning between the Federal Government and the new handlers of the facility was still ongoing.
Chief David Kente who is the Chairman of DSK Foundation and a 2023 Governorship contender in Taraba State, observed that there was no way a landing permit could have been granted for landing at the Airport since the transitioning process was not completed.
“Although a request to that effect was made to the airport so as to ease the transportation our guests, the distinguished senators, Sen. Jimkuta and I understood the position of the facility since the concession process was still ongoing.” He said.
He stressed that the development was not peculiar to the distinguished Senators since routine flight operations have since been suspended at the Kashimbila Airport to enable a smooth transition between the Federal Government and the new Managers.
Kente noted that apart from the change of guards, the new handlers may also be embarking of some restructuring and improvement to make the place meet some international standards and best practices.
The APC Chieftain said that the statement credited to Senator Jimkuta who empowered his constituents with over N2 billion goods that the Senators were denied landing permit at the Kashimbila Airport was a communication gap.
He appealed for calm and urged the media not to rush to the press but to subject every information to thorough scrutiny before publication.
Our correspondent reports that there were speculations on Monday in Wukari that some special guests of Chief David Sabo Kente who celebrated 60th Birthday and those who were billed to grace the economic empowerment program of Sen. David Jimkuta were denied landing permit at the Kashimbila Airport.///.